Who Will Protect the Paint?

The Miami Heat are better than average on the defensive side of the court but will need to improve in certain areas if their main goal is a championship. Ranked 11th in points allowed, the main area of concern for the Heat is the paint and who will protect it?

For the 2019-20 season, the Heat ranked 29th in offensive rebounding, 16th in total rebounds, and 23rd in blocks. While Butler is great on the wings, the Heat will need Bam Adebayo and Meyers Leonard to be ultra-aggressive on the defensive side.

The offensive rebounding is a huge problem especially in the playoffs where shots will not fall and if the Heat bigs can offer second chance opportunities either for the wings or themselves, they stand a great chance of advancing.

However, protecting the paint will be the reason the Heat fall or rise. The Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks both have players in the paint willing to do the dirty work on the defensive side of the ball and both teams love to attack the basket with force.

If the Heat is not able to keep their slashers and Centers off the glass and out the constricted area, this could be another season of disappointment.